Chapter: Patience with Allah’s decrees is part of believing in Allah.

Allah, the Exalted, says: “And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart.” ⦗Al-Taghābun 64:11⦘.

ʿAlqamah said: “It refers to a man upon whom a calamity falls; he recognizes that it is from Allah, so he is content and submits.”

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Biographical note on ʿAlqamah: He is ʿAlqamah ibn Qays ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAlqamah. Born during the Prophet’s lifetime, he was among the senior Successors, renowned for his learning and reliability. He died after 60 AH.

Relevance of the chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd: The author wishes to show that being patient with divine decrees is obligatory and that resenting them is prohibited, for such resentment conflicts with the perfection of monotheism.

Faith: Linguistically, it is affirmation that includes trusting the informant. Legally, it is utterance with the tongue, conviction in the heart, and action with the limbs.

Patience: Linguistically, it means restraint and holding back. Legally, it is restraining the soul from panic, the tongue from complaint or displeasure, and the limbs from slapping the cheeks or rending the garments.

“And whoever believes in Allah” means: he is convinced that the calamity came by Allah’s decree and predestination, and upon it he utters the istirjāʿ (“Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return”).